Kalanchoe plant named ‘Fikalsaja’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Fikalsaja’, characterized by its compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching plant habit; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform, early and freely flowering habit; clear yellow-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FIKALSAJA’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Kalanchoe Plant Named ‘Fikalcoto’

Applicant: Ike J. Vlielander

Filed: Concurrently with this application having application Ser. No.14/545,483

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Kalanchoe plant,botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Fikalsaja’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new freely-branching and freely-floweringKalanchoe plants with attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in De Lier, The Netherlands in 2010 of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana‘Forever Midi Yellow’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent withKalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Goldstrike’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.6,632, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Kalanchoe plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledenvironment in De Lier, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, anyvariance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Fikalsaja’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Fikalsaja’ as a new and distinct Kalanchoeplant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching plant habit.    -   4. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Uniform, early and freely flowering habit.    -   6. Clear yellow-colored flowers.    -   7. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, ‘Forever Midi Yellow’. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ fromplants of ‘Forever Midi Yellow’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are not as vigorous as plants of        ‘Forever Midi Yellow’.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have smaller leaves than plants        of ‘Forever Midi Yellow’.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have larger flowers than plants        of ‘Forever Midi Yellow’.    -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flower earlier than plants of        ‘Forever Midi Yellow’.    -   5. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and ‘Forever Midi Yellow’ differ        in flower color as plants of ‘Forever Midi Yellow’ have orangish        yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the maleparent, ‘Goldstrike’. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of‘Goldstrike’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more vigorous than plants of        ‘Goldstrike’.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more freely branching than        plants of ‘Goldstrike’.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have larger flowers than plants        of ‘Goldstrike’.    -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flower earlier than plants of        ‘Goldstrike’.    -   5. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and ‘Goldstrike’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘Goldstrike’ have orangish yellow-colored        flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the Kalanchoeblossfeldiana ‘Fikalcoto’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent applicationfiled concurrently having application Ser. No. 14/545,483. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plantsof the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of ‘Fikalcoto’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were smaller and more compact        than plants of ‘Fikalcoto’.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had lighter green-colored stems        than plants of ‘Fikalcoto’.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had larger leaves than plants of        ‘Fikalcoto’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Kalanchoe plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Kalanchoe plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plantof ‘Fikalsaja’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the winter in 10-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and undercultural practices typical of commercial Kalanchoe production. Duringthe production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 19°C. to 20° C. and light levels ranged from 10,000 lux to 50,000 lux.Plants received long day/short night conditions (more than 14 hours oflight) for about three weeks then plants received photoinductive shortday/long night conditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering.Plants were 15 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken.In the detailed description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Fikalsaja’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Forever            Midi Yellow’, not patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Goldstrike’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,632.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at            temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at            temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 20 days            at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 27 days            at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; greyish white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and uniformly            mounded plant habit; freely flowering habit with numerous            cymes positioned above the foliar plane; inverted triangle            with rounded crown; appropriate for 7.5 to 15.25-cm            containers; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height at flowering.—About 15 cm.        -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 15 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with usually about            five to seven lateral branches developing per plant;            pinching (removal of the terminal apex) is not required but            will enhance lateral branch development.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 11 cm to 16 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm to 5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 2 cm to 3 cm.        -   Aspect.—Erect.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Close to 137D.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical.        -   Quantity per plant.—About six to ten mature leaves and about            ten to 14 generative leaves.        -   Length.—About 10 cm.        -   Width.—About 7 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate to elliptic.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            coriaceous; succulent; glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:            Close to N137A; venation, close to N137A to N137B.            Developing and fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 147B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm to            8 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            coriaceous; succulent. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to N137A to N137B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single flowers arranged singly            in axillary cymes; uniform and freely flowering habit with            usually more than 25 open flowers and more than 25 flower            buds per lateral branch and more than 150 open flowers and            flower buds developing per plant; plants flower continuously            for at least six weeks.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe            initiate and develop flowers under short day/long night            conditions or during November and December in The            Netherlands; flower initiation and development can also be            induced under artificial short day/long conditions (at least            14 hours of darkness).        -   Time to flower.—Early flowering habit, under short day/long            night photoinductive conditions, plants begin flowering            about eight to ten weeks; actual time to flower is primarily            dependent upon temperature and light intensity.        -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production            longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance            for about 46 days under interior conditions; individual            flowers last about 16 days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 1.9 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 1.4 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Shape: Initially oblong, becoming tubular ovoid with            development. Color: Close to 138C and becoming closer to 12C            with development.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Four in a single whorl. Length: About            7 mm. Width: About 6 mm. Aspect: Flat to somewhat upright.            Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            When opening, upper surface: Close to 12A. When opening,            lower surface: Close to 12C to 12D. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 12A to 12B; color becoming closer to 12C            with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 12D.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four in a single whorl. Length: About            9 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Oblong, pointed. Apex:            Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Upright, rigid.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth; glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 138B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Aspect:            Erect, rigid. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Close to 138B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About eight            per flower. Anther shape: Elliptic, flat. Anther length:            About 0.3 mm. Anther color: Close to 150D. Amount of pollen:            Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 12A. Gynoecium: Pistil            number: About four. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Style length:            About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 138D. Stigma shape: Flat.            Stigma color: Close to 8D. Ovary color: Close to 138D.        -   Seeds.—Length: About 0.1 mm. Diameter: About 0.05 mm. Color:            Close to 166C.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from about 16° C. to about 35° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not    been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to    Kalanchoe plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Fikalsaja’ as illustrated and described. 